A leader on the Montana Grizzly football team has received the most sought-after nomination for any defensive player in the FCS, the Buck Buchanan Award watch list.

Senior linebacker Jordan Tripp was named to the Buck Buchanan watch list this week according to the sponsoring Sports Network. Tripp is one of 20 players named to the watch list for the award that is presented to the outstanding defensive player in the FCS at the end of the regular season.

Tripp will be starting for his fourth straight season. He's a 6'-3", 237 pound senior from Missoula and was second in tackles last season on the Grizzly team with 95 tackles, and a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss.

Montana head coach Mick Delaney is not surprised that Tripp made the watch list again this season.

"It's very, very deserving, you know Jordy's played so well the last four years, and going into his fifth year with a redshirt year for the injury to his shoulder," Delaney said. "Jordan's one of the leaders on our team, obviously, and on top of that he's a tremendous football player. He's the type of kid that does everything he should both on and off the field. We're just really excited for him and to make that list is a real honor."

Past recipients of the Buck Buchanan award include Montana's Kroy Bierman, who now plays professionally for the Atlanta Falcons.